Nominations come to a close in TN

Chennai, Apr 20 (UNI) DMK Treasurer Arcot N Veerasamy, AIADMK nominee for T Nagar, Kalai Rajan and hundreds of independents were among those who filed their nomination papers on the last day today for the May eight Assembly elections in Tamil Nadu.

About 2,500 candidates were said to have filed nominations as the process came to a close at 1500 hrs. Nominations opened on April 13.

Till yesterday, 2,166 contestants had filed nominations.

Scrutiny of nominations will be taken up tomorrow and the last date for withdrawal of candidature is April 24. The campaign will end on May six and polling will take place on May eight.

Chief Minister and AIADMK General Secretary J Jayalalithaa filed her nomination for the Andipatti seat on April 15, while DMK chief Mr Karunanidhi, seeking election for the record 11th time, filed his papers for the Chepauk seat in the city on April 17.

The poll process in the state had gained momentum with the arrival of election and expenditure observers. The observers had fanned out to their respective constituencies to ensure smooth conduct of polls.

Electioneering reached a feverish pitch with leaders of various political parties criss-crossing the state mobilising support for their respective fronts.

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